Sri Lanka has announced a four-day work week for state institutions and universities, beginning Wednesday, in an effort to conserve scarce fuel reserves amidst escalating conflict in the Middle East.

• Key person: Commissioner-General of Essential Services Prabath Chandrakeerthi announced the measures.
• Notable detail: The government is also suspending public ceremonies and encouraging civil servants to work from home where possible.
• Important fact: This austerity measure comes as Sri Lanka, which imports all its oil, grapples with the economic fallout from its 2022 debt default and seeks to manage fuel supplies potentially lasting only six weeks.